WALLACE: General, let me ask you about former Prime Minister Allawi, who said today that Iraq is in a civil war, with an average of 50 to 60 people being killed every day in sectarian violence. If that isn't a civil war, what would be?

CASEY: I don't necessarily agree with the former prime minister, and it's been a while since I've talked to him about the security situation, because he's been out of the country.

But I will tell you the violence in Iraq is not necessarily widespread. There is sectarian tension and there is sectarian violence, but it's primarily focused in the center of the country around Baghdad.

In 15 of the 18 provinces, there are six or less incidents of violence a day. That's not just sectarian. That's all kinds of violence. In 12 of the provinces, it's two or less incidents of violence a day. So the country is not awash in sectarian violence.